COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome as an occupational disease

An occupational disease is one that occurs exclusively or mainly under the influence of the harmful factors of the working environment and is included in the list of occupational diseases. Since the early stages of the pandemic, it has been proposed that COVID-19 be recognized as an occupational disease worldwide, but to date the situation varies from country to country. Even more serious turn out to be the complications of the disease (the so-called long COVID or post- COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). Patients may experience symptoms for up to 3 months or more after the onset of infection, which significantly reduces their ability to work and impairs their quality of life. To date, COVID-19 and long-term COVID-19 are not included in the lists of occupational diseases provided by international organizations (International Labor Organization, World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU)) and are not recognized as an occupational disease in Bulgaria and in most countries. This leads to a number of economic complications both for the patients (and their families), as well as for the employer and the state.